http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/05/ever-wonder.html One of Bill Parcells' former players recently told me the Dolphins new warden is a firm believer that when an athlete starts setting himself up for life after football Parcells concludes "he's done." Outside of Parcells' machismo image, and button pushing nature, ever wonder if that's at the heart of his cold war with Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor? Ever wonder if Jason Taylor would really sit out this year, retiring to pursue other ventures? That's what his camp has been floating out there for a while. And that threat actually put General Manager Jeff Ireland in a brief panic for a few minutes at the owner's meetings when ProFootballtalk did that April fools joke earlier this spring. Ever wonder if the Dolphins are prepared to play this season without Taylor? Was that what the pursuit of Calvin Pace was about? And could Charlie Anderson or Quentin Moses really fill that role? Is that why the position wasn't addressed in the 2008 draft?
Got to be prepared to play a season without every single player on your roster. Be stupid not to. I listen to a lot of AJ Smith out here in San Diego. Every single time he is interviewed, he talks about lining them up 3 deep at every single position.
Honestly, the Dolphins are about the future, not the past. Jason Taylor was a great player and might have a year or two left, but everyone involved needs to move on. The expectations in 2008 are so low, you don't need JT and to be honest, he doesn't need you. BZ
